The Pendulum May 20, 2022, Edition

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Elon News Network

THE PENDULUM

Friday, May 20, 2022 Elon, North Carolina Volume 51, edition 29

COMMENCEMENT EDITION CLASS OF 2022

SOPHIE ROSENTHAL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

PREPARATIONS • PAGE 6

A behind-the-scenes look at what goes into commencement

HOW CAMPUS CHANGED • PAGE 10 A look at how the campus has adapted from 2018 to 2022

ATHLETES MOVE ON • PAGE 12 How Elon varsity athletes are preparing to leave their sports

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THE PENDULUM A PUBLICATION OF

Letters from ENN’s graduating seniors

Established 1974 Volume 51, Edition 29 Elon News Network is a daily news organization that includes a newspaper, website, broadcasts and podcasts. Letters to the editor are welcome and should be typed, signed and emailed to enn@elon. edu as Word documents. ENN reserves the right to edit obscene and potentially libelous material. Lengthy letters may be trimmed to fit. All submissions become the property of ENN and will not be returned.

KYRA O’CONNOR Executive Director of Elon News Network

Baylor Rodman

ENN Graduating Senior

SOPHIE ROSENTHAL Managing Editor of The Pendulum MIRANDA FERRANTE Managing Editor of elonnewsnetwork.com ELLIS CHANDLER Exectutive Producer of Elon Local News CHLOE FRANKLIN Exectutive Producer of ELN Morning ERIN MARTIN Exectutive Producer of ENN On Air MADALYN HOWARD Chief Copy Editor CAROLINE MITCHELL Design Chief AVERY SLOAN Politics Director MASON WILLETT Sports Director ABBY SHAMBLIN Analytics Director ANNA TOPFL Social Media Coordinator

Nyah Phengsitthy contributed to the design of this edition. Miranda Ferrante contributed to the copy editing of this edition.

EDITORIAL POLICY: ENN seeks to inspire, entertain and inform the Elon community by providing a voice for students and faculty, as well as serve as a forum for the meaningful exchange of ideas.

CORRECTIONS POLICY: ENN is committed to accurate coverage. When factual errors are made, we correct them promptly and in full, both online and in print. Online corrections state the error and the change at the top of the article. Corrections from the previous week’s print edition appear on this page.

Contact corrections@elonnewsnetwork.com to report a correction or a concern.

WHEN WE PUBLISH: The Pendulum publishes weekly on Wednesdays

Elon Local News broadcasts Mondays at 6 p.m.

ELN Morning

Caitlin Rundle

ENN Graduating Senior

Four years ago, when I set my sights on colleges, I sought out a place that contained three main pillars — community, tradition and opportunity. Just walking across this campus, those markers shine bright: walking around, constantly seeing people you know and those you’ll soon get to know over your four years; the traditional feel of the campus and traditions that set

Elon apart like New Student Convocation and Luminaries; the opportunity to do what you love, love what you do and start working towards your career as a freshman. Elon News Network gave me the traits, teachings and experience that has brought me to where I am today as I prepare my final walk across campus.

I can’t thank you, the viewers, enough for sticking

with us every step of the way — most importantly for your trust and dedication to student journalism.

I arrived on this campus four years ago, wide-eyed and excited for the potential of the coming years. Ironically, I thought I was one of few who came from a small, Northern area near a big city, but obviously, I learned very quickly that wasn’t special to me. Finding my place here at Elon was harder than I expected it to be, and that fact was something even harder to admit.

Eventually, I joined Elon News

Network. ENN gave me a home on this campus when I wasn’t quite sure where else I could give the same honor to, and that feeling of purpose only grew stronger. Without ENN, not only would I have never become the journalist I am today, but I would’ve never been the person I am today — the person who’s not scared to stand up for herself, or the person who is eager to ask as many questions as possible.

Without ENN, I would’ve never been able to say that I get to live out my childhood dream.

As I move forward, I will always remember my time at Elon and the lessons it gave me.

Thank you to all I’ve had the privilege of meeting, and I wish you all nothing but the best.

Long Live Elon!

Information on commencement Diploma Ceremonies

Each ceremony will last approximately 2 hours and will include a keynote address given by Hilary Corna ’07, best-selling author and host of the “UNprofessional” podcast, followed by reading of names and awarding of diplomas as candidates cross the stage.

Martha & Spencer Love School of Business and School of Communications 9 a.m. | Schar Center Graduates should report to the practice facility beginning at 7:45 a.m. A briefing on ceremony procedures will be at 8:20 a.m.

Dr. Jo Watts Williams School of Education and Elon College, the College of Arts & Sciences 2 p.m. | Schar Center Graduates should report to the practice facility beginning at 12:45 p.m. A briefing on ceremony procedures will be at 1:20 p.m.

Parking information Commencement guest parking will open at 7:30 a.m. Schar Center parking is only available to guests during the ceremony they are attending, and morning guests will be asked to leave before 12:30 p.m. for the afternoon ceremony.

Late Ticket Pickup Participating graduates must ensure that tickets are in the possession of the guests who will attend the diploma ceremony in Schar Center on May 20.

At this time, any graduates who have not picked up tickets should immediately email commencement@elon.edu to make arrangements. A Ticket Will Call will be at Schar Center before each ceremony for those who requested their tickets be held for their guests’ arrival.

broadcasts Thursdays at 10 a.m.

ENN On Air broadcasts Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.

Corrections There are no corrections for the last edition of The Pendulum.

Alternate Viewing Guests without tickets to Schar Center ceremonies may watch in Alumni Memorial Gym in Koury Athletic Center. Tickets are not required for viewing in Alumni Memorial Gym. The ceremonies will also be available to livestream on personal devices at www.elon.edu/live.

COMMENCEMENT

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Moments before receiving their oak saplings, the class of 2022 participates in a candlelight ceremony.

ELLIS CHANDLER | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

JOSEPH NAVIN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Elon University brickmason Cody Watson uses a mallet to place left over bricks at the conclusion of the senior bricklaying event on May 4.

SOPHIE ROSENTHAL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior Molly Morrison smiles after receiving a rainbow stole at Lavender Graduation on April 29.

JOSEPH NAVIN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Elon University senior Emmelyn Conway takes graduation photos of seniors (from left) Kristen Mitchell, Lauren Isola and Katie Dalrymple in front of the Alamance Building on May 15.

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Seniors reflect on campus leadership roles

“

Anika Waco

COLLEGE IS SUCH A UNIQUE TIME WHERE WE’RE ALL IN A SIMILAR AGE, IN THIS ONE PLACE, ALL HERE FOR GENERALLY THE SAME THING. AND I HAVE REALIZED THROUGHOUT MY TIME HERE THAT IS REALLY THE ONLY INSTANCE WHERE THAT’S GOING TO EVER HAPPEN. MY ADVICE IS TO JUST BE SUPER OPEN MINDED TO ALL OF THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE REALLY UNIQUE TO THAT FOUR YEARS OF COLLEGE, ALL OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN GET INVOLVED … I HAVE SUCH AN APPRECIATION FOR EVERYDAY LIFE. I THINK, ESPECIALLY, I REALIZED THAT FROM BEING SENT HOME FROM COVID AND REALIZING ALL I WANT IS JUST TO WALK ACROSS CAMPUS, AND GO GET COFFEE AND DO HOMEWORK. AND THAT WAS SUCH A SMALL, MUNDANE THING THAT I REALIZED I HAVE BEEN SO GRATEFUL FOR. SO JUST EVERY SINGLE DAY AND YOUR EVERYDAY ROUTINE — THERE IS SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR.

“

Jack Corby

FROM MY LEADERSHIP ROLES ON CAMPUS, I HAVE REALLY LEARNED THAT THE PEOPLE YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH AND DECIDE TO DO WORK WITH IS WHAT MAKES EVERYTHING MEANINGFUL. YOU CAN DO GREAT WORK, BUT IF YOU DO NOT ENJOY THE TEAM AND PEOPLE YOU SURROUND YOURSELF WITH, IT WILL NOT BE AS ENJOYABLE.

“

Alex Nemfakos

GIVEN THAT EVERYONE ON CAMPUS HAS A PROPENSITY TO BE LIKE, ‘YEAH, I’LL DO EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN,’ I THINK SOMETIMES IT’S GOOD TO THINK BEFORE YOU TAKE OUT BECAUSE I THINK BEING ABLE TO WORK MORE SPECIFICALLY ON A COUPLE OF THINGS IS MAYBE BETTER THAN DOING A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING, ESPECIALLY IN COLLEGE. THAT WAS MORE OF HIGH SCHOOL BECAUSE YOU HAD TO GET INTO COLLEGE. JUST LEARN WHAT YOU’RE DISCOVERING NEXT.

“

Samantha Dominguez

IT’S GOING TO SOUND KIND OF WEIRD, BUT SAY YES. WHEN ANYBODY ASKS YOU TO GO DO SOMETHING, IF YOU REALLY DON’T HAVE A GOOD REASON TO SAY NO, SAY YES. JUST DO IT. I MEAN, THERE’S JUST SO MANY THINGS THAT I GOT TO DO JUST ON A WHIM — WHEN MY FRIENDS ASKED ME TO COME WITH THEM TO AN EVENT ON CAMPUS, AND I HAD ONE OF THE GREAT NIGHTS OF MY LIFE, HAD AWESOME MEMORIES. SO, I FEEL LIKE SAYING YES MORE THAN YOU SAY NO AND REALLY JUST SEIZING ANY OPPORTUNITY THAT’S OFFERED TO YOU, BECAUSE NOT EVERYBODY GETS THE OPPORTUNITY.

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Faculty advice for post-grad life Vanessa Drew-Branch

Assistant Professor of Human Service Studies

“

MY ADVICE FOR GRADUATES IS TO FOCUS ON TWO THINGS: BALANCE AND LOVE. LIFE WILL ALWAYS TEND TO PULL YOU TOWARDS AN EXTREME POINT — BE IT WORK, RELATIONSHIPS ETC. — BUT WORKING TOWARDS BALANCE WILL HELP YOU TO MAINTAIN WELLNESS. DO NOT GET SO FOCUSED ON YOUR INDIVIDUAL GOALS THAT YOU FORGET THAT YOU’RE A MEMBER OF A COMMUNITY WHO LOVES YOU AND NEEDS YOUR LOVE IN RETURN. REMEMBER LOVE IS A VERB! CONGRATULATIONS!

Angela Lewellyn Associate Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, and Associate Professor of Social Justice

“

THICH NHAT HANH STATED, ‘HOPE IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT CAN MAKE THE PRESENT MOMENT LESS DIFFICULT TO BEAR. IF WE BELIEVE THAT TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER, WE CAN BEAR A HARDSHIP TODAY.’ I BELIEVE TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER BECAUSE AMAZING ELON GRADUATES WITH THE INGENUITY AND INTELLECT TO CREATE POSITIVE CHANGE ARE HEADING OUT INTO THE WORLD TO DO JUST THAT! WITH THE HOPE THAT LIES INSIDE OF THE CLASS OF 2022, I KNOW WE CAN IMPROVE THE STATE OF OUR SOCIETY, WE CAN BE REMINDED OF THE LOVE THAT UNITES US ALL AND WE CAN GROW IN A POWERFUL AND MEANINGFUL WAY.

Glenn Scott

Associate Professor of Journalism

“

YOU’LL BE SURPRISED DURING THIS RICH PERIOD OF ADJUSTMENT HOW THE LESSONS FROM COLLEGE WILL KEEP SEEPING INTO YOUR THINKING EVEN AS YOU FOCUS SHARPLY ON WHAT’S NEXT. SAVOR THE GROWTH AND THE COMPLEXITIES.

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A LOOK INTO COMM

In the days leading up to the university’s 2022 commencement ceremonies, venues are prepared

by Elon contractors, staff Joseph Navin

Elon News Network | @josephanavin

During the week prior to the both undergraduate and graduate commencement ceremonies, contractors and staff from Elon University prepared numerous venues for ceremonies.

A majority of the preparations inside Elon University’s Schar Center, the venue for the undergraduate graduation ceremony, began on Friday, May 13.

Headed by Rick Earl, production manager for cultural and special programs, facilities management staff first set up controls for the Whitley Auditorium organ inside Schar Center. During the graduation ceremony, the organ will be played from inside Whitley, and the live sound will be piped into Schar.

“We set up that and tested that Friday, set up the audio on Friday, and we did some preliminary coordination of our wireless frequencies,” Earl said.

Logistically, Earl said the organ setup was easier for previous ceremonies, like the class of 2020’s commencement ceremony held Under the Oaks last September. Holding commencement

inside Schar Center adds new complexities.

“You’re out of the elements, so that it’s different that way,” Earl said. “We’ve been using the Whitley organ since it was put in.

And when you’re at Whitley, it’s literally running a cable out of the window and over to the stage. Well, obviously, we can’t do that, so it’s a little bit more complicated.”

Setup inside Alumni Gym for the graduate-level commencement ceremony was completed prior to the work inside Schar Center.

On Monday, May 16, additional preparations inside the Schar Center began at 9 a.m. with the laying of carpet, which covered the court used for basketball and volleyball games.

This was followed by the installation of a truss structure to hold lighting equipment.

Construction then began on the temporary stage inside Schar Center with an audio installation behind it. In the afternoon, the lectern was installed atop the stage, and seating was then placed on what is usually the basketball court.

During the undergraduate commencement ceremony, a small control room inside Schar Center called the broadcast control room will serve as the nerve center for the ceremony. A live stream of the ceremony will be available on the university’s website, as well as a Spanish language translation broadcast of the event.

“We have all this stuff tied together, and it all works,” Earl said.

“That’s what’s kind of fun – we’re truly a campus wide event.”

Contractor Russell Hill adjusts a microphone on the lectern in Schar Center. A te

Scotty Williamson, a worker for Facilities Management, sets down chairs inside Schar Center on May 16.

JOSEPH NAVIN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

JOSEPH NAVIN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Rick Earl, the production manager for cultural and special programs at Elon secures the seal of Elon University on May 16 inside Schar Center.

Greg Thorn sets up lights to illuminate the numen lumen emblem inside Schar Ce

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MENCEMENT SETUP

JOSEPH NAVIN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

emporary stage was built inside the venue on May 16 for graduation.

enter on May 16.

Two flags bear the name of the university during Elon’s final rehearsal for undergraduate commencement on May 18.

JOSEPH NAVIN | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MIRANDA FERRANTE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MIRANDA FERRANTE | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

University President Connie Book presents a diploma during undergraduate commencement practice in Schar Center on May 18.

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TOP 10

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ARTICLES OF THE YEAR

Elon University trustee, Medallion recipient dies unexpectedly Kyra O’Connor

Executive Director | @ko_reports

Jeanne Robertson, Elon University Board of Trustees member and longtime supporter of Elon University athletics, died unexpectedly on Aug. 21 at the age of 77.

A Graham native, Robertson was named Miss North Carolina 1963, where she began speaking as part of the title. While she originally viewed speaking as a way to make some extra money, she continued her degree at Auburn University and eventually became a full-time professional speaker in 1976.

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Elon University raises cost of tuition and fees by over 9% for next academic year

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Former Elon University quarterback Davis Cheek signed by Carolina Panthers

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Meet the candidates running for mayor, council of Burlington

Baylor Rodman, Kyra O’Connor, Nyah Phengsitthy and Ryan Kupperman

Jacob Kisamore

Graysen Shirley

Elon University published the tuition, and room and board for the following academic year. Tuition and fees will increase by over 9% for the 2022-23 school year, to $42,241. Room and board for the following school year will be $13,886.

The total sticker price will be $56,127, according to Elon’s website listing tuition and fees. The finalized numbers for the coming year were published on Monday, Nov. 15. For 2021-22, the overall price was $52,148 — $13,423 for room and board, and $38,725 for tuition and fees.

According to sophomore Sydni Brown, her annual household income is less than the tuition that she and her family have to pay each year.

Former Elon University quarterback Davis Cheek has been signed by the Carolina Panthers after going undrafted in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Cheek started 40 games in five seasons at Elon. He missed the 2020-21 spring season due to a knee injury. He finished his career with 8,548 passing yards, 51 passing touchdowns and 21 interceptions and was named to the 2021 All-Colonial Athletic Association Second Team.

Since the first NFL Draft in 1936, only 17 players from Elon University’s football team have been selected by NFL franchises, and only three have been taken since 1992.

Cheek is the eighth Elon player to be signed by an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.

The primary for the Burlington mayoral and city council races will be held Oct. 5, 2021. The top four council candidates and the top two mayoral candidates will go on to the general election in November.

Residents, including Elon students, faculty and staff, who live in the municipality of Burlington are eligible to vote in both the October primary and the November general election. Residents can vote early, vote by mail or on Election Day. Mayor: City Council - Ian Baltutis - Dejuana Bigelow - Walter Boyd - Charlie Beasley - Jim Butler - Bob Byrd - Caleb Massey - Wendy Jordan - Donna Vanhook - Harold Owen - Ronnie Wall

Elon News Network | @jacob_kisamore

Elon News Network | @graysenshirley

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Black residents in Alamance County search for a safe space

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New Alamance county sheriff candidate announces campaign focused on diversity

friday May 20, 2022

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North Carolina, Alamance County primary candidates finalized

Nyah Phengsitthy

Avery Sloan

Avery Sloan

Driving down North Graham Hopedale Road in Burlington, Seneca Rogers passes by the former Western Electric CompanyTarheel Army Missile Plant. Rogers, who is currently running for Alamance Board of Education, hopes that the area can one day turn into something else — a Black community space.

The lifelong Burlington resident observed community hubs, such as the Mayco Bigelow Community Center at North Park and the CityGate Dream Center, serving as a meeting place for the many Black community members as he grew up and still does today.

But those spaces aren’t enough.

After filing his candidacy in the last hour before the deadline last Friday, Kelly White publicly announced his campaign for Sheriff in Alamance County. He is running against incumbent Terry Johnson, who has been in the position since 2002 and hasn’t faced a challenger in his past two elections.

White has over 20 years of law enforcement experience, including law enforcement command and management roles, and leading two North Carolina agencies as the Interim Chief of Police. He is currently the Winston-Salem State University’s Deputy Chief of Police.

The primary for the midterm elections is May 17 with a total of 76 candidates who have declared their candidacy. The positions available are US Senate, US House of Representatives, North Carolina Supreme Court Associate Justice, North Carolina Court of Appeals, AlamanceBurlington Board of Education, North Carolina State Senate, North Carolina House of Representatives, North Carolina District Court Judge, District Attorney, Alamance County Board of Commissioners, Alamance County Clerk of Superior Court and Alamance County Sheriff.

Elon News Network | @nyahphengsitthy

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Town of Elon resident arrested after resisting public officer, disorderly conduct

Elon News Network

A town of Elon resident was arrested on Oct. 2 for “resisting a public officer and disorderly conduct,” according to a police report.

Resident Michael Lassiter was arrested Saturday night outside the back entrance of the Station at Mill Point. According to the police report, Lassiter began “yelling and cursing at individuals as they walked by his residence” when the officers arrived.

According to the report, after ignoring verbal requests to stop, Lassiter was arrested and processed in the town police department before being sent to Alamance County Jail.

Students told Elon News Network that Lassiter has verbally harassed them as they walked down the street to campus, and members of a Station at Mill Point group message said that they’ve been yelled at.

Politics Director | @averylsloan

9 Kyra O’Connor

Elon University community mourns unexpected death

Executive Director | @ko_reports

Politics Director | @averylsloan

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The Elon community is mourning the death of a freshman student who died Monday, Sept. 20. Will Stoneman, a freshman student enrolled at Elon for the fall semester, died at his home in St. Louis, Missouri.

Vice President for Student Life Jon Dooley told Elon News Network that he encourages any students affected by the news of Stoneman’s death in any way to seek out resources, such as the Truitt Center and Student Care and Outreach, in the days and weeks ahead.

“The death of a student is really heartbreaking,” Dooley said. “We definitely encourage people to reach out.”

Following a university wide email regarding Stoneman’s death, the university held a community moment of remembrance on Tuesday and offered counseling in Numen Lumen Pavilion. Rev. Kirstin Boswell spoke to students, faculty and staff in attendance, holding space for those to speak and for silence, as well.

“A wise person once told me that the loss of any community member is like a nail in a fence. Once the nail is removed, the hole remains,” Boswell said. “We learn by going where we have to go, and so we’re learning now to go forth carrying both sorrow, but also love and unity with us always.”

Elon University to lose $269,000 after venue declares bankruptcy

Sophie Rosenthal

Managing Editor | @sophrosenthal

Elon University stands to lose more than $269,000 after a corporate meeting venue, The Solution Center, declared bankruptcy.

The university had given the center the money as an advance on rental space.

Including the money owed to Elon University, the center had more than $452,000 total in debts but claimed under $3,200 in assets when it filed for Chapter 7 liquidation in December 2021.

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Four years on: how Elon has changed Class of 2022 reflects on campus transformation Erin Martin

Executive Producer of On Air | @erinmartin35

Over the past four years, Elon University’s class of 2022 has seen the campus change significantly. With changes to the student center, residence life and dining halls, the graduating seniors have seen campus change and evolve.

When graduating seniors first stepped foot on Elon’s campus in Fall 2018, construction on several major renovation projects was wrapping up.

In August 2018, Elon’s newest residential neighborhood, East, was opened. The neighborhood is a trio of three-story residential buildings — each one housing 103 students — located beside Jimmy Powell Tennis Center, which had just unveiled its new tennis pavilion that month, as well.

The Koenigsberger Learning Center also opened in August 2018. The 11,000-square-foot expansion to Belk Library added more space for classrooms, offices and study spaces.

Also in August, the newly-completed Schar Center held its first volleyball match, and soon after, held other major campus events. In October, the venue hosted Connie Book’s inauguration as Elon’s first female university president.

In October and November of 2018, the newly-renovated McEwen Dining Hall opened its doors. The dining hall was renovated over the 2017-18 academic

ENN FILE PHOTO

Schar Center undergoes construction on Sept. 26, 2017.

year and, upon its completion, brought a variety of new dining stations and two retail locations, Pei Wei and Village Juice and Kitchen.

Richard W. Sankey Hall was dedicated in early November, housing a variety of programs like the Financial Literacy Center, the Doherty Center for Creativity and the Chandler Family Professional Sales Center.

Later that month, the Elon men’s basketball team held its season opener against University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Schar Center. Although the Phoenix lost 116-67, it was a historic game — 5,245 fans were in attendance, exceeding Schar Center’s capacity by over 100.

The following year in August 2019, indoor renovations at Virginia Hall were finalized. Also that fall, the newly-

completed LaRose Student Commons was dedicated. The 10,000-square-foot, two-story building located in Historic Neighborhood has been home to study and gathering spaces for students and faculty ever since.

In January 2020, the Elon Inn was officially opened to the public. The $31 million facility fulfilled the university’s long-standing goal to have an on-campus hotel and conference center.

As the class of 2022 prepared to enter senior year, Moseley Center underwent second floor renovations, improving gathering spaces and offices for campus organizations like the Gender and LGBTQIA Center and the Center for Leadership.

Other projects during Summer 2021 included renovations to Smith Hall, updates

to El Centro de Español, the installation of a new outdoor workout facility and the completion of a Club Esports facility in Global Commons.

Over the past four years, Elon has also added many outdoor additions. Assistant Vice President of Facilities Management Tom Flood said Elon has added “hundreds of Adirondack chairs, tables, umbrellas and sun shades” intended to increase outdoor gathering spaces on campus.

As seniors prepare to graduate and depart Elon, other campus construction projects are being finalized in time for the class of 2022’s return to campus on Homecoming Weekend next fall.

Graduating senior Jack Swartz first toured campus when the Koenigsberger Learning Center was being built in 2017.

He said being able to see the many changes on campus over the past few years has made his Elon experience even better.

“Seeing the developments on campus really make the campus feel more modern, clean and more beautiful than before,” Swartz said.

Swartz said he is excited to visit campus in the future and see all the changes.

The new baseball indoor performance facility is set to be completed later this week and will be home to indoor batting cages, a locker room and offices for baseball staff.

Other renovations set to be done by fall include the completion of Founders Hall and Innovation Hall located in the new Innovation Quad, as well as renovations to McMichael Science Center. Carolina Hall and Hook, Barney and Brannock residence halls will also be undergoing construction this summer.

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The Elon University Chapter of Phi Kappa Phi welcomed its newest initiates during an April 27 ceremony in Alumni Gym. Joining the national honor society were 71 undergraduate students, 18 graduate students, four alumni and four faculty/staff members.

Provost Aswani Volety delivered opening remarks that were followed by a keynote address by Elon President Emeritus Leo M. Lambert.

Members of the 2020 and 2021 classes of inductees, who had previously been inducted in absentia due to the pandemic, were also invited to join this year’s in-person celebration.

Doo Lee Christina Marchand Mark Kurt Sarah Mason Assistant Dean of Global Education Giavanna Papavero and Professor of Economics Catherine Parsons Charles Rizzo Kathy Matera Stephanie Schwartz Professor of Chemistry and Chair Durand Shoup of the Department of Chemistry Alicia Tate Mark Weaver Max Wilson Assistant Professor of Statistics Alexander Taylor UNDERGRADUATE Senior Assistant Registrar for Technology and Communications STUDENTS Sage Albert Nick Asprea ALUMNI Morgan Bassett Bryant Colson Lilly Beaver Meredith Citty Barger Adrienne Bevins Joleen Neighbours Jay Blue Annette Orbert Aiden Bradshaw Zoie Browder GRADUATE STUDENTS Phoebe Carlton Jordyn Chandler Elizabeth Cerrito Mary Corcoran Becca Chase Caroline Davis Nina Crocco Jennifer Gehrin Abigail Diedrich Hannah Goodrum Caroline Digan Kaitlyn Hickman Caroline Durham Rynita Julien Alexandra Elliott McKayla Kraft Ally Everton FACULTY AND STAFF

Matthias Ferring Heath Foster Lotte Fox Melissa Freed Kaitlyn Freeman Julia Friedenberg Amaya Gaines Will Gatchel Madison George Jordan Gower Anelisa Holder Blake Healey Blythe Hehmeyer Nana Kaneko Kaley Katz

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Graduates stay in town of Elon, embrace local community Some of the class of 2022 hope to further connections by staying in Elon Sophie Rosenthal

Managing Editor | @sophrosenthal

Compared to senior Sam Santos’ small hometown in Massachusetts, Burlington feels like a major city. So when she got the opportunity to work locally and stay in town after graduation, she jumped at it.

With 38 regional alumni chapters based across the U.S. and Europe, Elon University encourages its graduating students to expand their job search worldwide. But some soon-to-be Elon graduates have chosen to start the next chapter of their lives in the same place they closed the last — Alamance County.

“A lot of the student base is coming from the Northeast, and a lot of them want to go home afterwards, which I think is why, as a university, we push Boston, New York and LA for post-grad opportunities,” Santos said. “Burlington has a lot to offer in terms of businesses and different majors. … But I think it’s just overlooked because of the fact that that’s where we’ve been for four years, and it’s like, ‘OK, I want to go somewhere new.’”

One aspect Santos is most looking forward to is leaving the Elon bubble and being a part of the local community. In her new role as the director of hospitality and ticket operations for the Burlington Sock Puppets baseball team, she’s focused on community outreach. But beyond work, Santos said she wants to get involved in the community on a personal level.

Santos said she wants to connect her experiences at Elon with her new job and plans on using her time living locally to stay connected with faculty and staff at Elon. She said some faculty and staff are going to come to a Sock Puppets game this summer.

“It’s really important that I give back to them what I got out of Elon these past four years, as well as get Elon faculty and staff just a little bit more involved in a different side of Burlington they’re not used to,” Santos said.

Elon alumna Simone Royal ‘17 grew up in Alamance County and initially moved out of state after graduation. A few years later, she came back to Elon to work with the Center for Race, Ethnicity and Diversity Education, first as a program coordinator and now as the CREDE’s assistant director. Her advice for graduates staying nearby is to break out of the Elon bubble by exploring and getting out of their comfort zones.

“Alamance is a very unique county. It offers a lot of different perspectives, and there’s a lot of culture here as well,” Royal said. “Try new things. I always say, ‘Don’t be scared to take risks. It’s OK if someone says no.’”

Though graduates staying in Elon or Burlington have already spent years in the area, Royal said living in Alamance not as a student will likely be a different experience.

“Elon is a very pretty place, and the rest of Alamance County is not that,” Royal said. “And I mean that in a lot of different ways. Not just looks, but people.

Interactions with people will be different.

SOPHIE ROSENTHAL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior Camryn Black will be staying in the town of Elon after graduation. In a few years, she plans to apply to the physician’s assistant graduate program at Elon University.

… There’s poverty, there’s food scarcities across Burlington that many students at Elon do not know, homelessness, and so it’s just more of the real world.”

Royal said she thinks living in Alamance can be a great learning experience for graduates, though the transition from student to local resident may feel abrupt.

Graduating senior Camryn Black is also staying in Elon after graduation. She said her past two years living in an offcampus neighborhood surrounded by local families will make this upcoming transition smoother.

After this week, Black will no longer be an underclassman in the community, but she isn’t ready to completely move on from being a local student. She hopes to be

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a graduate student at Elon and is applying to Elon’s physician’s assistant program after gaining more experience in a health care setting.

“That’s actually my dream,” Black said.

“I tell everybody that if I’m not back at Elon in two and a half years, I failed in life. I definitely want to stay here and go to their PA program.”

Whether she ends up back at Elon or not, Black said she didn’t feel ready to leave yet and thinks being near campus will help her acclimate to post-graduate life.

“It kind of eases the transition a little bit,” Black said. “Because if I ever feel uncomfortable or feel like it’s too much new, I could just take a stroll through campus and feel like I’m a student again.”

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COMMENCEMENT

Friday May 20, 2022

Athletes look ahead to future post-Elon Graduating student-athletes prepare to take next steps, reflect on past experiences Jacob Kisamore

Elon News Network | @Jacob_Kisamore

When Natalie Cummins ‘21 began applying for graduate programs in January, she discovered the application process was much different from when she committed to play volleyball at Elon in junior year of high school.

Cummins, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in sport management from Elon in May 2021, used the extra year of eligibility granted to all athletes in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic to play one more season of volleyball last fall. She added a psychology minor for the fall semester, helping her decide to pursue a career in sports psychology. After applying to five programs, she committed to continue her studies at Loyola University Maryland’s clinical professional counseling program.

“The application process was new for me, a little more overwhelming than it was going from high school to college because I knew I was committed to Elon,” Cummins said. “That was a crazy process, and it made me very anxious, but it was exciting, and it ended up working out.”

For senior and graduate student athletes departing Elon this spring, there is both excitement for the future and disappointment that their time playing competitive sports is over. Cummins said she is grateful to have been a Division I athlete at Elon.

“I feel so lucky just to have been a part of it,” Cummins said.

Super senior year

Cummins was one of two players on Elon’s volleyball team last season that returned to Elon for a “super senior” season, along with Julia Crabtree ‘21. When Cummins returned to the team, she earned a nickname from her underclassmen teammates that stuck throughout the season.

“The girls, particularly the incoming freshmen, called me grandma,” Cummins said.

“It was fine, and it was so funny, but it was true.

Like, that really was my grandma year.”

Cummins knew she wanted to continue her education after graduating from Elon, and with schools across the country still dealing with COVID-19 restrictions, she decided to return and play for one more year.

As a team captain, Cummins helped Elon make it to the championship match of November’s Colonial Athletic Association Tournament for the first time since the program joined the conference in 2014. She said she has no regrets about returning for a fifth season.

For Cummins, being a student athlete at Elon helped her develop as a person, and she

said she believes the experience will help her with her future endeavors.

“It was cool to be a young kid seeing the older girls on the team mentor me, and I know how much of an impact they had on my volleyball and just my overall Elon career,” Cummins said. “And then being able to turn that around and start bringing the new girls up and teaching them about Elon and Elon volleyball was such a cool experience.”

More than No. 1

While Chuck Hannah cherished his time playing basketball at Elon, the graduating senior said he will also forever carry the memories he made while working as an orientation leader and team lead for Elon’s New Students Programs.

“I was itching to find another avenue to connect with more people that wasn’t just in the athletic realm,” Hannah said. “I didn’t want people to see me as the kid that just wears number one on the basketball team, that’s not what defines me.”

On Aug. 1, Hannah will begin his first post-graduate job with Charles Aris Executive Search in Greensboro, a company he previously interned for. While Hannah is excited for this new chapter in his life, he said he is also nervous about the uncertainty it comes with.

“You never really know what’s going to happen, and it’s not as simple as going to swipe into the McEwen or Lakeside,” Hannah said.

“I have to map out what I’m going to eat, how much it’s going to cost, all that kind of stuff, so there’s a lot more things I have to think about.”

Hannah was part of Elon’s 2021 men’s basketball team that qualified for the program’s first ever CAA championship game. After 65 starts in four seasons with the team, he is grateful for what his previous coaching staff taught him about basketball, but more importantly, life.

“We have a saying in our practice gym — you’re either getting better or you’re getting worse, you never stay the same,” Hannah said.

A new beginning

Although Sam Bacon’s college soccer career has come to an end, his school career has not. In August, the former Elon University men’s soccer player will begin working toward a master’s degree in information systems management at Carnegie Mellon University.

While Bacon is looking forward to a fresh start at a new school, he said he will miss the connections he made at Elon and is nervous about the transition.

“The newness of it all is very exciting for me, but at the same time, I think that where a bit of the nervousness stems from, just all the unknown,” Bacon said.

After redshirting his freshman year, Bacon made 29 starts during three seasons at Elon.

A team captain this season, Bacon helped the program reach its first CAA championship

JOSEPH NAVIN | PHOTO EDITOR

Senior Natalie Cummins goes up to spike the ball against UNC Asheville on Sept. 10. Elon won 3-0.

LUCAS CASEL | STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Senior Chuck Hannah shoots a jump shot against Towson University on Jan. 15. Elon lost 59-54.

match since joining the conference.

For Bacon, helping establish a winning culture at Elon is his proudest athletic achievement at the school. But Bacon was not only a star athlete during his time at Elon — he was also a star student. An Honors Fellow, Bacon took honors seminars in each of his first two years at Elon and completed a research thesis focusing on data visualization methods in his final two years.

“I take sports very seriously, and I had my team, and my coaches and that whole part of my image, but at the same time, I take school very seriously,” Bacon said. “It was nice to have the Honors Program and those people who I knew were on the page as me about school.”

Going out a champion

As a member of the track and field and cross country teams at Elon, Hannah Preeo won CAA championships in each of her last five competitive seasons, as cross country won the team title in 2019, 2020 and 2021, and track and field won in 2021 and 2022.

“It fills you with joy when you win a championship. To have been a part of five championship teams, each one was super exciting,” Preeo said. “The team aspect is the one thing that stands out to me the most. We’re always there for each other. We want each other to succeed, and we’ve become so close.”

A native of Australia, Preeo will return to the country this summer before beginning a graduate nursing program at an Australian university next March. For now, she hopes to become a nurse but is open to other possibilities.

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve never been to university in Australia, so it’s going to be something new,” Preeo said.

Preeo is thankful for her time as a studentathlete at Elon and hopes future students will take advantage of their time at the university.

“It’s really important to be living in the present each day and be grateful for what you have because you have so many amazing resources,” Preeo said. “College is a great chapter of your life. Looking back at it now, it’s like, wow, I really had the time of my life.”

JACOB KISAMORE | SPORTS DIRECTOR

Senior Hannah Preeo competes at the Elon Opener at the Elon cross country course. Elon finished second in the event, and Preeo finished 20th with a time of 14:35.8.